I am not saying what he did was smart, or that he should not be punished in some way, but 20 years is way over the top to me. 20 years in prison will ruin his life when he has not actually hurt anyone. 20 years is a longer sentence than if he had committed rape.

He hasnt been sentenced to 20 years. That is what the charge carries. He will probably plead to a misdemeanor and get a fine and some community service hours. a DUI technically is like a year in jail or something. Most people don't serve any jail time but lose their license for 30 days and pay a fine.

Anger built up over being picked on at school (where have I heard this before? Oh...every school shooting.)

"He posted a threat in the form of rap where he mentioned the White House, the Boston Marathon bombing, and said ‘everybody you will see what I am going to do, kill people,’” Methuen Police Chief Joe Solomon told local newspaper The Valley Patriot."

This is his charge:
The law D?Ambrosio is charged with violating is Massachusetts General Law chapter 269, section 14, which prohibits the communication of a threat regarding specific weapons like firearms, chemical munitions or other explosives. The penalty for such an offense is no more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.